Fun Stuff

Treasures Found on the Property

For those interested, creative adventures awaits at the travelbridge home. There is a supply of art materials on the property that I intend to repurpose into art pieces or use in building renovations. The sculpture below is entitled "Home at Last" and was part of a local pop-up art display. The piece was inspired by a ceramic pitcher with a golden butterfly applicque that I found on the property. The entire piece is built from remnants left by previous owners.

Animal Guests

They seem to really enjoy their stay. I talk to them often and keep them entertained.
top row, left to right: Worthy, Worthy & Apricot, Pekoe & Luxie, Luxie & Penny, Mable

bottom row, left to right: Trixie & me, Beau, Apricot, Pekoe & Penny, cow Melina meets cat Gepetto

Farm Animals

Daisy a 14 yr old pregnant cow came here to get away from a stressful situation. She gave birth to Gurty on my property. The first two photos are moments after Gurty's birth. The next summer Gurty returned with another young cow. One day I looked out the window to see Gurty wearing a chair. I had to take a few pictures before helping her get it off.

Almost every summer I have had cows/steers in the pasture. They are fun to take care of and they love mowing the lawn around the house. Sometimes they do things that you never thought they could do....like getting through a tiny door to eat the hen's food, One year I had a mini horse share the pasture with two young cows and it worked fine. I was able to stable the horse separately at night.

Solar Cooker made from Waste Materials

I spend a lot of time outside in the summer, The solar oven is great because I can easily cook without having to go in and out of the house. I also appreciate that my house doesn't get heated from cooking in the summer.

This solar oven was made by James Sullivan out of mostly found items. The oven is an old cast iron barbecue lid that has been insulated by spongy ceiling tiles and incased in waste wood. The oven sits in a reconfigured walker that is on wheels. The reflectors are bought sheet metal that is lined with silver reflective tape that I found in the basement of the house.

There are a few aspects of the oven that need tweaking. For example the glass door of the oven is ordinary glass repurposed from my waste pile. The glass door has been replaced twice but both times it has cracked from the heat of the oven. I need to find tempered glass.

Watch James work at my house:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xANdZEKMadk

https://cookingwiththesun2.wordpress.com/